Patria-Kaye Aarons | Breaking down a meltdown

No, serious thing. I had to watch that video of the female cop at Constant Spring Police Station many times. Many, many times.

Not even the Game of Thrones season finale was that gripping. It was all too familiar. The star of the short viral video was a classic example of an employee stressed out and holding it for a long time. She clearly articulated the elements that brought her (and many others like her in the world of work) to her breaking point, and I got it.

I'm no therapist, but between the lines of what she said I heard a cry for help. I heard a victim. There's clearly perceived abuse of power by a superior made invincible by the backing of the boss. I heard the fear of isolation through lies. I heard a deliberate restraint not to name-call.

I heard low blows used to get an upper hand. I heard the coping mechanism of sick leave and the punishing tool that is a write-up in your file, a transfer, or a forced resignation.

Police drama

I heard promotion-blocking. I heard office gossip and sex. I heard the madness of repetition that only extreme frustration brings out. And last, I heard a nosy, uncaring co-worker who feebly intervened only after he'd heard one minute and 47 seconds of a juicy tale to tell.

I transcribed her meltdown word for word. It reads far less humorous than the video. Over to you, Commish.